MDAs stall passage of Lagos 2014 bill

The passage of the Lagos State 2014 budget was stalled yesterday on the floor of the House of Assembly by the failure of 10 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide the Committee on Budget and Appropriation with required documents.

The MDAs are Eko Project, Lagos State Building and Construction Agency (LABCA), Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Metropolitan Development Agency (LMDA), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lottery Board.

Majority of the lawmakers condemned the MDAs’ attitude.

The Chief Whip, Abdulrazaq Balogun, said the MDAss “deliberately refused” to supply the necessary documents and should be compelled to do so.

The Deputy Whip, Rotimi Abiru, said the House cannot go on recess without passing the budget, insisting that the documents would have to be submitted.

Mr. Ipoola Omisore (Ifako-Ijaiye II) said: “It is the desire of the House to pass the money bill before the end of the year. It is not right for any MDA to hold us back.”

The House, led by the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, ordered the MDAs to present the documents to the committee on Thursday, January 2.